Apparatus for regulating and controlling the level of food liquid in closed containers

Abstract

An automatic apparatus for regulating and controlling the level of a liquid (1) in a tank (2) includes a liquid level detector (8). A vessel (3) associated with the tank (2) has a predetermined volume and is equipped with an upper closure (6) and with an open bottom (5) in communication with the interior of the tank (2) at a height below the level of the liquid (1). The automatic apparatus increases/decreases a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel (3) and consequently transfers part of the liquid to/from the tank (2) through the bottom (5) in response to changes in the liquid level inside the tank (2) as detected by the liquid level detector (8).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for regulating and controlling a level of a liquid in a tank equipped with a closure, said apparatus comprising liquid level detection means, the apparatus comprising:
 a vessel associated with the tank, having a predetermined volume and equipped with an upper closure and with an open bottom in communication with the interior of the tank at a height below the level of the liquid; 
 means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of a volume inside the vessel and for transferring part of the liquid to/from the tank through the bottom in response to changes in the liquid level inside the tank as detected by the detection means. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel comprise means for applying a positive/negative pressure to a meniscus of the liquid contained in a rest of the vessel. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel comprise means for introducing/extracting an inert gas into/from said vessel. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said vessel is located at least partly inside the tank. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said vessel is associated with the closure of the tank and is located inside the tank. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said vessel has a telescopic construction with frusto-conical elements or frusto-pyramidal elements, allowing adaptation of the volume. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said vessel is located outside the tank and is connected to the tank through the bottom and a passageway formed in the tank wall below the level of the liquid. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid level detection means comprise a filling chamber located at a top of the tank and wherein said upper closure of the vessel and said means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel comprise a fluid-tight piston and respective drive means. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said vessel and said filling chamber are supported by a removable closure of the tank. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said drive means for the piston comprise weight of the piston and wherein mechanical means are provided for closing the tank when the liquid has entirely filled the filling chamber. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising microprocessor means connected to said control means for controlling the level of liquid in the tank and to said means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel. 
     
     
       12. A method of using an apparatus for regulating and controlling a level of a liquid in a tank equipped with a closure, said apparatus comprising liquid level detection means, a vessel associated with the tank, having a predetermined volume and equipped with an upper closure and with an open bottom in communication with the interior of the tank at a height below the level of the liquid; means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of a volume inside the vessel and for transferring part of the liquid to/from the tank through the bottom in response to changes in the liquid level inside the tank as detected by the detection means;
 wherein said means for increasing/decreasing a liquid-free portion of the volume inside the vessel comprise means for introducing/extracting an inert gas into/from said vessel; the method comprising: applying positive/negative pressure cycles in the vessel, to generate shock waves inside the tank that contains fermenting must and disintegrate a cap of marc.